Jean-Claude Juncker

Born 9 December 1954, Juncker entered Luxembourg's government as Finance Minister in 1989 and became prime minister in 1995. He held that office until 2013, making him the longest-serving head of government in the EU - a tenure that spanned the financial collapse and the sovereign debt crisis that nearly broke the eurozone. In 2005 he became the first permanent President of the Eurogroup, the council of finance ministers managing the single currency. In 2014 the European People's Party made him its Spitzenkandidat for the Commission presidency, the first time a candidate campaigned for the post before the election. The European Parliament elected him on 15 July with 422 votes. He took office that November and served until 30 November 2019, his agenda dominated by energy union, digital market integration, and the grinding negotiations over Britain's departure.